Programmable actuation force input for an accessory and methods thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9962608-B2
Application number	US-201514691546-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2015
Priority date	Apr 21, 2014
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a button including a fixed force magnet coupled to a first housing assembly component serving as a top portion of the button, a variable force magnet coupled to a second housing assembly serving as a bottom portion of the button, and a spring coupled to the fixed force magnetic and the variable force magnet for repelling the fixed force magnet from the variable force magnet according to a spring constant of the spring. The variable force magnet emitting a magnetic field to counter the spring constant and thereby adjust a force required to depress the button. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
communicating, by a system comprising a processor, a signal to a variable force magnet at a first portion of a button to initiate a magnetic field, the magnetic field interacting with a ferromagnetic material at a second portion of the button to create a magnetic resistance to pressing of the button, wherein the variable force magnet at the first portion of the button and the ferromagnetic material at the second portion of the button are along a first radial axis;
detecting, by the system, a first conductive material coupled to the first portion of the button contacting a second conductive material coupled to the second portion of the button, wherein the first conductive material and the second conductive material are along a second radial axis different than the first radial axis;
generating, by the system, a change in electrical communication between the first portion of the button and the second portion of the button in response to the first portion of the button contacting the second conductive material coupled to the second portion of the button;
detecting, by the system, the change in electrical communication between the first portion of the button and the second portion of the button indicating a button press in counteraction of the magnetic resistance; and
asserting, by the system, a first actuation state responsive to the detecting of the change in electrical communication.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a computing device that receives a target magnitude of the magnetic field from an accessory, wherein the signal that is communicated to the variable force magnet initiates the magnetic field to the target magnitude.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a computing device that receives a target polarization of the magnetic field from an accessory, wherein the signal that is communicated to the variable force magnet initiates the magnetic field to the target polarization.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal is a digital signal or an analog signal.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting to a software application first substitute stimuli responsive to the first actuation state.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ferromagnetic material comprises a magnetized ferromagnetic material that initiates a second magnetic field, the second magnetic field altering the magnetic resistance to the pressing of the button.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the change in electrical communication comprises changing a state of a conductive coupling, a capacitive coupling, an inductive coupling, or any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting, by the system, the signal that is communicated to the variable force magnet to initiate an altered magnetic field of the variable force magnet, wherein the altered magnetic field creates a second magnetic resistance for returning the button to a non-pressed state.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the adjusting is responsive to the detecting of the change in electrical communication between the first portion of the button and the second portion of the button.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
detecting, by the system, a second change in electrical communication between the first portion of the button and the second portion of the button indicating a second button press in counteraction of the second magnetic resistance; and
asserting, by the system, a second actuation state responsive to the detecting of the second change in electrical communication.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first actuation state identifies a first button identification of an accessory from which the button was pressed, wherein the second actuation state identifies a second button identification of the accessory, and wherein the first button identification differs from the second button identification.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first button identification is associated with the button of the accessory, and the second button identification is associated with a different button of the accessory.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the system, a program setting for a target magnitude of the magnetic field, a target polarity of the magnetic field, or any combination thereof; and
updating, by the system, the signal responsive to the program setting that is received.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the program setting is received from user-generated input.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting of the change in electrical communication between the first portion of the button and the second portion of the button comprises sensing a voltage level generated by an electro-mechanical sensor, and wherein the voltage level is proportional to a depression range of the button.

16. An accessory, comprising:
a button comprising a variable force magnet and a ferromagnetic material;
a memory to store instructions; and
a processor coupled to the memory and the button, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, the processor performs operations comprising:
initiating a magnetic field at the variable force magnet, wherein the variable force magnet is at a first portion of a keypad, wherein the magnetic field interacts with the ferromagnetic material, and wherein the ferromagnetic material is at a second portion of the keypad to create a magnetic resistance to pressing of the keypad, wherein the variable force magnet at the first portion of the keypad and the ferromagnetic material the second portion of the keypad are along a first radial axis;
detecting a first conductive material coupled to the first portion of the keypad contacting a second conductive material coupled to the second portion of the keypad, wherein the first conductive material and the second conductive material are along a second radial axis different than the first radial axis;
generating a keypad press in response to the first portion of the keypad contacting the second conductive material coupled to the second portion of the keypad;
detecting the keypad press in counteraction of the magnetic resistance; and
transmitting an actuation signal to a computing device responsive to the detecting of the keypad press.

17. The accessory of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving a signal associated with a target magnitude of the magnetic field, a target polarity of the magnetic field, or any combination thereof, wherein the initiating of the variable force magnet comprises communicating the signal to the variable force magnet.

18. The accessory of claim 16 , further comprising a spring between the first portion of the keypad and the second portion of the keypad.

19. A button, comprising:
a fixed force magnet coupled to a first housing assembly component serving as a top portion of the button;
a variable force magnet coupled to a second housing assembly component serving as a bottom portion of the button;
a spring coupled to the fixed force magnetic and the variable force magnet for repelling the fixed force magnet from the variable force magnet according to a spring constant of the spring, the variable force magnet emitting a magnetic field to counter the spring constant and thereby adjust a force required to depress the button, wherein the fixed force magnet, the variable for magnet, and the spring are along a first radial axis;
a first conductive material coupled to the first housing assembly component; and
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Assignees

• Steelseries Aps

Inventors

• Soelberg Tino

Classifications

• G06F2203/013

  Force feedback applied to a game · CPC title

• G06F9/44505

  Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files · CPC title

• G06F13/102

  where the program performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver (G06F13/105 takes precedence; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52) · CPC title

• A63F13/63

  by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor · CPC title

• G06F3/0395

  Mouse pads · CPC title